SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION PROVIDING A HAPTIC USER INTERFACE

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for data collection in an industrial environment having wearable haptic stimulators are disclosed. Data received from a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to a machine of an industrial environment, where the data is representative of a sensed condition, may be used to determine at least one haptic stimulation that corresponds to the received data. In response to the determined haptic stimulation, at least one signal may be sent to at least one wearable haptic stimulator, wherein the wearable haptic stimulator is responsive to the signal.

Claims

1. A system for data collection in an industrial environment, comprising: a plurality of wearable haptic stimulators that produce stimuli; a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to a machine of the industrial environment; a processor logically disposed between the plurality of sensors and the wearable haptic stimulators, the processor configured to: receive data from the plurality of sensors representative of a sensed condition of the machine; determine at least one haptic stimulation that corresponds to the received data; and send at least one signal in response to the at least one haptic stimulation; wherein at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators is responsive to the at least one signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one haptic stimulation is selected from a list of stimuli consisting of: tactile, vibration, heat, sound, force, odor, and motion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one haptic stimulation represents an effect on the machine in the industrial environment resulting from the sensed condition.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a bending effect on the machine in the industrial environment is presented as bending at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein a vibrating effect on the machine in the industrial environment is presented as vibrating at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein a heating effect on the machine in the industrial environment is presented as an increase in temperature of at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein an electrical effect on the machine in the industrial environment is presented as a change in sound produced by at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators is selected from a list consisting of: a glove, a ring, a wrist band, a wrist watch, a arm band, head gear, a belt, a necklace, a shirt, foot wear, pants, overalls, coveralls, and safety goggles.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one signal comprises an alert of a condition of interest in the industrial environment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one haptic stimulation produced in response to the alert of a condition of interest is repeated by at least one of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulators until an acceptable response is detected.

11. A method of providing an operator with haptic stimuli responsive to an operator's control of a machine, the method comprising: receiving an operator's control input to a machine; receiving data from a plurality of sensors associated with the machine; determining, based on the received data, a condition of the machine as a result of the operator's control input; determining at least one haptic stimulation that corresponds to the determined condition; and sending at least one signal for instructing a wearable haptic stimulator to produce the at least one stimulation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a vibrating determined condition is presented as vibrating stimulation by the wearable haptic stimulator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a temperature-based determined condition is presented as heat stimulation by the wearable haptic stimulator.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a bending determined condition is presented as a bending stimulation by the wearable haptic stimulator.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein an electric determined condition is presented as a change in sound produced by the wearable haptic stimulator.

16. A haptic user interface safety system worn by a user in an industrial environment, the safety system comprises: a wearable haptic stimulator responsive to signals from a remote processor; a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to a piece of equipment of the industrial environment; a remote processor configured to: receive data from the plurality of sensors deployed in the industrial environment to sense a condition in the industrial environment; determine at least one haptic stimulation that corresponds to the received data; and send at least one signal instructing the wearable haptic stimulator to produce at least one stimulation in the wearable haptic stimulator.

17. The safety system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of wearable haptic stimulators, and wherein sending the at least one signal comprises sending the at least one signal to the closest of the plurality of wearable haptic stimulator to the equipment.

18. The safety system of claim 16 wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one of a type, a strength, a duration, and a frequency of the at least one stimulation that is indicative of a risk of injury to the user.

19. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the haptic stimulation is selected from a list consisting of: pressure, heat, impact, and electrical stimulation.

20. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the wearable haptic stimulator comprises a wireless transmitter that broadcasts a location of the user.

21. The safety system of claim 20, wherein the wireless transmitter broadcasts a location of the user in response to indicating a proximity of the user to the equipment.